Saudi Arabia bans under 18 marriage

A de-facto ban on child marriages has been issued and minimum age for marriage fixed at 18 by Saudi Arabia Government through its Ministry of Justice on Monday.

This new development was contained in a circular issued by the country’s Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council of Sheikh Dr. Walid Al-Samaani.

In the circular, all courts in the country were directed to refer the marriage application of anyone under 18 to a special court to make sure that “marrying those below 18-years old will not harm them and will achieve their best interest, whether they are male or female”.

The new order which is one of the social reform initiated since Mohammad Bin Salman became crown prince two years ago, came after an amendment to the Kingdom’s Child Protection Law was passed by the Shoura Council in January 2019.

Recall also that King Salman signed a decree permitting women to travel or obtain a passport without the permission of male guardians in October 2019. The decree did away with the need for permission of a guardian to marry, apply for a passport and leave the country. In the same month, women were allowed to join the armed forces.

The amendments also granted women the right to register the birth of a child, a marriage or a divorce, and to be issued official family documents and be eligible as a guardian to children who are minors. In January 2019, Saudi authorities stipulated that women must be paid equally to men.